Decorative beaded device for hair

ABSTRACT

A device particularly useful as a decorative hair accessory and as a way to keep hair in a braided style includes two opposing sections, a male section and a female section which, when coupled together or closed, create a channel for receiving braided hair. The two opposing sections have protrusions or teeth which may be sized to help keep the device in position on the braid and to help keep the braid from unraveling. The exterior of the two opposing sections are formed so as to have the appearance of a row of individual beads. Alignment posts and locking mechanisms may be positioned along the length of the device to help maintain the device in a closed, aligned position and securely attached to the hair. Optionally, the device may include an opener with a tapered end to facilitate opening of the device.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/588,344, filed Jan. 19, 2012, which is incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to hair accessories, and more particularly, to a unitary hair accessory which has the appearance of multiple threaded beads.

2. Description of the Related Art

Braids are a popular hairstyle, particularly among young girls. Frequently, braids or tufts of hair are adorned with beads to further add to the aesthetic appeal of a hairstyle. While pony beads are the most common type of beads used in hair, beads come in a variety of shapes, colors, and designs and are often selected to coordinate with clothing or to express a particular theme such as a red, white, and blue patriotic theme.

Several techniques are commonly used to apply beads to braids or strands of hair. One such technique involves the use of a beader. A beader is a tool which is used to assist in applying beads to a braid or strands of hair. To apply the beads, the beads are loaded onto the shaft of the beader in the order or pattern desired. Then, a braid is threaded through a hole in the top of the beader much like one would thread a needle. Next, the braid is folded upwardly and aligned with the tip of the beader so that the beads can be transferred or pushed from the bottom of the beader, along its shaft, over the folded end of the braid and onto the braid itself. The folded end of the braid is then unfolded and removed from the beader leaving a braid which has been nicely decorated with beads.

A beader and a method of applying beads to a braid are taught by U.S. Pat. No. 5,967,151. One shortcoming of the method described therein is that it requires a separate, spring loaded bead stop to secure the beads on the braid once they have been applied to the braid. Other known techniques for securing beads on a braid include the use of a barrette or a rubber band to prevent the beads from sliding off the braid. However, a barrette, because of its relatively large size and weight may not be aesthetically desirable and may contribute to additional stress on strands of hair. In addition, barrettes are susceptible to becoming detached from a braid, allowing the beads to slide off the braid and also allowing the braid to readily become unraveled. Furthermore, the use of rubber bands may not be desirable because the friction of the rubber against the hair can cause breakage of the hair. Also, rubber bands are susceptible to breakage themselves which can cause the beads to fall off the hair. It is particularly dangerous for beads to fall off, or be pulled off of the hair of younger girls, as toddlers have been known to swallow beads and lodge them in their ears and nostrils. In response to this, many day care centers have implemented a “no hair beads” policy.

Braiding hair and the application of beads to braids is a time-consuming and laborious process. The overall time associated with braiding hair into a desired pattern and decorating the braids with beads can sometimes takes several hours. This is undesirable for several reasons. First, a person, especially a child, who has to endure this process may become bored, impatient or irritable causing an unpleasant experience for the hairstylist and the customer alike. In addition, because of the time consumed in this process as well as the additional supplies needed to apply and secure individual beads (i.e., beader, rubber bands), there is necessarily a monetary impact. Any improvements which enhance the efficiency of the hair braiding and decorating process are desirable. Thus, there is a need for a means to decorate braided hair with beads which is less time consuming, less costly, which does not damage hair, and does not present a safety hazard.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is directed to a device that satisfies the needs identified above with a decorative hair accessory which looks like a row of beads yet securely and easily locks onto a braid or strands of hair. A decorative beaded hair accessory having features of the present invention comprises a male section and a female section coupled to the male section. Both the male section and the female section have an inner and outer surface with a lateral surface formed therebetween. The inner surface of the male and female section form first and second channels, respectively, which are sized to receive a braid or strands of hair. The inner surface of the male section includes a plurality of protrusions or teeth extending therefrom. The protrusions penetrate or become interlaced with a braid or strands of hair when the device of present invention is in a closed position. The inner surface of the female section may also be provided with a plurality or protrusions for the same purpose. The outer surface of the male and female sections are designed to have the appearance of a row of individual beads when the device of present invention is in a closed position.

In accordance with one aspect of the present invention the device may be optionally provided with at least one alignment post on the lateral surface of the male section and a section for receiving at least one alignment post formed on the lateral surface of the female section. In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, a locking mechanism may be provided wherein the inner surface of the male section includes at least one projection and the inner and lateral surfaces of the female section include a surface defining an opening for receiving at least one projection which frictionally engages with the opening to keep the device in a closed and locked position.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a beaded hair accessory which has the appearance of a row of individual beads.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a beaded hair accessory that securely attaches to braided hair.

It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a beaded hair accessory which aids in preventing a braid from unraveling.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide a beaded hair accessory which is less time consuming to apply to hair than individual beads.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide an accessory for decorating hair which is less expensive to apply to hair than individual beads.

It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a decorative hair accessory which does not damage hair.

It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a decorative hair accessory which is versatile in that it may be attached at any point along the length of twisted, braided or loose hair.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide a decorative hair accessory which does not pose a health or safety risk.

These and other aspects, advantages and novel features of the present invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description of the invention when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an inside perspective view of the device of the present invention in an open position.

FIG. 2 is a top view of the device of the present invention in an open position.

FIG. 3 is a side view of the device of the present invention in an open position.

FIG. 4 is a bottom view of the device of the present invention in an open position.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the optional opener for use in conjunction with the device of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is an outside perspective view of the device of the present invention in the closed position.

FIG. 7 is detailed perspective view of a hinge of the present invention as shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 8 is a bottom view of an alternative embodiment of the device of the present invention hingedly coupled in an end-to-end configuration.

FIG. 9 is a top view of alternative embodiment of the device of the present invention arranged for coupling without hinges.

FIG. 10 is a side view of yet another embodiment of the device of the present including a filler material for the device.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

For the purposes of promoting an understanding of the principles of the invention, reference will now be made to the embodiments illustrated in the drawings and specific language will be used to describe the same. It will nevertheless be understood that no limitation of the scope of the invention is thereby intended, such alterations and further modifications in the illustrated embodiments, and such further applications of the principles of the invention as illustrated therein being contemplated as would normally occur to one skilled in the art to which the invention pertains.

FIG. 1 illustrates an inside perspective view of the decorative beaded device 10 of the present invention in an open position. Decorative beaded device 10 includes a male section 12, a female section 14, and one or more hinges 16 to connect the male section 12 and the female section 14. Preferably, the male section 12, female section 14, and hinges 16 are formed as a single piece of plastic by a plastic injection molding process. Hinges 16 are preferably made from a material that has sufficient flexibility so that male section 12 can be folded over hinges 16 to mate or engage with female section 14. Alternatively, when decorative beaded device 10 is made of wood or metal, such as gold, platinum, or silver, hinges 16 may be made from the same metal. Male section 12 and female section 14 may be two separate pieces, and the male section 12 and female section 14 can be hingedly coupled by the hinges 16 which may be of the same or a different material.

Male section 12 is preferably semi-cylindrical in shape and has a first inner surface 18, defining a first channel 20, and a first outer surface 19 having a beadlike appearance. First outer surface 19 is located distal from first inner surface 18. Likewise, female section 14 is also preferably semi-cylindrical in shape and has a second inner surface 22, defining a second channel 24, and a second outer surface 23 also having a beadlike appearance. Second outer surface 23 is located distal from second inner surface 22. Both the male section 12 and female section 14 have a lateral surface 21, 25 formed or connected between their respective inner surface 18, 22 and outer surface 19, 23. Male section 12 also includes one or more protrusions 26 extending perpendicularly from first inner surface 18. Similarly, female section 14 may include one or more protrusions 28 extending perpendicularly from second inner surface 22. The protrusions 26, 28 have first ends 30, 32 attached to first inner surface 18 and second inner surface 22, respectively, and second ends 34, 36 having a generally rounded abutment surface as better shown in FIG. 3. In one embodiment, the width of protrusions 26, 28 taper from the first ends 30, 32 to the second ends 34, 36. Alternatively, protrusions 26, 28 may have the same diameter over their entire length. In addition, as opposed to the protrusions 26, 28 extending perpendicularly from their respective inner surface 18, 22, they may be situated at other angles.

In one embodiment protrusions 26, 28 extend from one inner surface to the adjacent inner surface. For example, protrusions 26 may extend from first inner surface 18 substantially to the second inner surface 22. In another embodiment, protrusions extend from an inner surface to the height of the lateral surface of that inner surface. For example, protrusions 26, 28 may extend from inner surfaces 18, 22 to the height of their respective lateral surfaces 21, 25. In this manner, the protrusions 26 of the first inner surface 18 abut the protrusions 28 of the second inner surface 22 when the device 10 of the present invention is in a closed position. The protrusions 26, 28 of the present invention interleave with hair and assist in securing the device 10 of the present invention to hair, especially braided or twisted hair.

As shown in FIG. 1, to further assist in keeping the device 10 of the present invention securely attached to hair, a locking mechanism 38 may be provided. The locking mechanism 38 includes one or more upwardly facing projections 40 attached to the first inner surface 18. The projection 40 interlocks with a surface defining an opening 42 formed in the second lateral surface 25 and second inner surface 22 of female section 14. In this embodiment, decorative beaded device 10 may be maintained in a fastened or closed position by the frictional engagement of projection 40 and opening 42. Opening 42 may also include a vertical surface 43 formed in the second inner surface and the second lateral surface. Vertical surface 43 further assists in maintaining frictional engagement between projection 40 and opening 42.

Referring now to FIG. 2 and FIG. 3, in another embodiment, the projection 40 includes a lip 44 which fits into the opening 42 to maintain the device 10 of the present invention in a closed position. A user must exert a sufficient force to overcome the frictional resistance provided by projection 40 and lip 44 against opening 42 to snap male section 12 and female section 14 together into mating engagement. The lip 44 may be sized so that once in the closed position, device 10 remains closed until sufficient force is applied to separate male 12 section and female section 14. When opening 42 includes vertical surface 43, lip 44 abuts against the vertical surface to help secure the device in a closed position.

Referring now to FIG. 5, the present invention may include an opener 50 to assist in separating male section 12 from female section 14. Opener 50 is generally cylindrical in shape and may have a tapered end 52 for easy insertion into either end of device 10 of the present invention when in the closed or locked position. Opener 50 preferably has a diameter which is greater than the inner diameter of the device 10 when in the closed position so than when sufficient force is applied while inserting the opener 50, the device 10 readily opens.

Referring again to FIG. 2, first lateral surface 21 may be provided with one or more alignment posts 46 which extend perpendicularly from first lateral surface 21. Alignment posts 46 mate with sections 48 for receiving the alignment posts 46 which are formed in second lateral surface 25 of the female section 14. When the device 10 of the present invention is in a closed position, alignment posts 46 mate with the sections 48 for receiving the alignment posts, aligning the device and thus allowing the outer surfaces 19, 23 of the male section 12 and female section 14, respectively, to appear as a row of individual beads.

To aid in the overall appearance of the decorative beaded device 10 of the present invention, male section 12, and female section 14 may be provided with recesses 54 to conceal hinges 16 from view when the device 10 of the present invention is in a closed position. This feature further allows the decorative beaded device 10 to have the appearance of a row of individual beads.

As shown in FIG. 7, a detailed view of the hinge 16 highlighted in FIG. 1 includes a connector 71 which is attached to adjacent sidewalls 72, 73 via fold lines 74, 75.

Connector 71 has a cross section which is generally triangular in shape. Sidewalls 72, 73 are formed from male section 12 and female section 14, respectively. More specifically, sidewall 73 is formed from second inner surface 22 and inner lateral 29, for example. Sidewalls 72, 73 are also formed such that when folded up along fold lines 74, 75, they abut connector 71. A recess 54 is formed by connector 71, sidewalls 72, 73 and adjacent end walls 76, 77. A similar recess 55 is formed on the opposite end of connector 71 and is a mirror image of recess 54.

Male section 12 and female section 14 are folded about fold lines 74, 75 of hinge 16 so that projections 40 are in mating engagement with openings 42 as shown in FIG. 2. In particular, lip 44 may be provided to abut against opening 42 in female section 14 to secure the device 10 of the present invention in closed and locked position and to prevent it from inadvertently opening. In addition to contributing to the appearance of a row of beads, the hinge design, particularly sidewalls 72, 73, allow the lateral surfaces 21, 25 to easily align with one another when closing the device 10.

FIG. 8 depicts an alternative embodiment of the present invention. As opposed to the side-by-side configuration described above, the device 10 of the present invention may be arranged in an end-to-end configuration wherein hinge 16 is connected between a first folding end 82 of male section 12 and a second folding end 84 of female section 14. Because of the positioning of hinge 16 in this embodiment, which creates an open and a closed end when the device 10 is closed, this embodiment may be limited to placement at the ends of hair such as at the end of a braid.

In yet another embodiment of the present invention depicted in FIG. 9, male section 12 and female section 14 may be coupled to one another without the use of a hinge. As better shown in reference to FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, in this embodiment, the male section 12 and female section 14 are coupled to one another and held together by the frictional engagement of the projections 40 on the male section 12 exerting force against corresponding openings 42 on the female section 14. When male 12 and female section 14 as so coupled, they have the appearance depicted in FIG. 6.

FIG. 10 depicts an optional feature of the present invention, namely, a filler material 90. Filler material 90 is preferably formed of any elastic material such as a spongy foam or rubber that will further assist in securing hair within the device 10. An adhesive material such as glue (not shown) may be used to secure the filler material to first inner surface 18 and second inner surface 22. In addition, appropriately sized slits or cutouts may be formed in filler material 90 to accommodate protrusions or projections attached to the inner surfaces.

COMPARATIVE EXAMPLE

To demonstrate the effectiveness of the decorative beaded device 10 of the present invention, comparative testing was performed by an ISO 9001 certified testing facility to determine how securely the decorative beaded device 10 attached to two samples of braided hair. The device 10 of the present invention was evaluated against hair accessories identical in design to the present invention. However, Specimen A had no protrusions 26, 28 formed on the inner surfaces 18, 22 of the male section 12 and female section 14 and Specimen B had protrusions which were approximately one half the length of the protrusions formed on the inner surfaces 18, 22 of the male section 12 and female section 14 of the decorative beaded device 10 of the present invention as depicted in FIG. 1.

The device 10 designed in accordance with the teachings of the present invention as well as Specimens A and B were separately attached to Braid 1 and Braid 2. A test fixture having a hole bored therethrough was utilized to hold the hair accessories in place while pneumatic grips applied a pulling force to the braids. Pulling was performed at a rate of 1 inch per minute and the maximum load required to initiate movement of the braid relative to the hair accessory was recorded. The results are set forth in the table below.

TABLE 1 Braid 1 Braid 2 PRODUCT (lb_(f)) (lb_(f)) Specimen A 0.18 0.23 Specimen B 0.51 0.23 Present Invention 1.9 3.6

With regard to both Braid 1 and Braid 2, the device 10 of the present invention sustained a much greater pulling force (as much as 15.7 times greater) than Specimen A and Specimen B before movement of the braid relative to the hair accessory. Thus, the decorative beaded device 10 of the present invention provides superior resistance to slippage when applied to a braid as compared to Specimen A and Specimen B. Resistance to slippage is paramount because braided hair styles including any decorative attachments are typically expected to stay in place for a minimum of two weeks before needing to be re-braided. Therefore, having protrusions present that extend across the diameter of the device, securely attaching themselves to the braided hair as well as having projections that allow the device to remain securely in a closed position are key to the device's ability to remain in place, withstanding the normal everyday activities of a wearer for such extended periods of time. The above described protrusions and projections provide a significant improvement over prior art beads and other hair accessories.

To use the device 10 of present invention, a user places a braid or strands of hair in a channel 20, 24 of an open decorative beaded device 10. The hair so placed in the device interweaves with protrusions 26, 28. The device 10 is then closed about hinges 16 connecting the male section 12 and female section 14 thus assisting in holding braids or a cluster of hair in place. Protrusions 26, 28 provide the primary source of resistance to slippage. The decorative beaded device 10 so placed takes on the appearance of a row of individual hair beads as depicted in FIG. 6. As shown in FIG. 5, an optional opener 50 with a tapered end 52 may be used to assist in opening the decorative beaded device 10 of the present invention by inserting tapered end 52 into either end of the device 10 when it is in a closed position.

Hair which has been braided and adorned with beads suggests a very time consuming, tedious, and sometimes expensive process. With the present invention, hair may be decorated with a device 10 which looks like a row of beads yet does not require the undesirable time and expense typically associated with beaded hair styles. It will be clear to those skilled in the art that in addition to the outer surfaces 19, 23 of the device 10 of the present invention having the appearance of a row of beads, numerous other designs may be utilized without departing from the scope and spirit of the present invention. These designs may or may not resemble beads. For example, the device 10 could resemble a smooth decorative cylinder shape without indentations resembling beads.

Although the present invention has been described in terms of exemplary embodiments, it is not limited thereto. Rather, the appended claims should be construed broadly, to include other variants and embodiments of the invention, which may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope and range of equivalents of the present invention. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A decorative device for hair, comprising: a) a male section having a first inner surface defining a first channel and including a first plurality of protrusions extending from said first inner surface, a first outer surface defining a plurality of partial beads, and a first lateral surface between said first inner surface and said first outer surface; and b) a female section hingedly coupled to said male section, said female section having a second inner surface defining a second channel, a second outer surface defining a plurality of partial beads, and a second lateral surface between said second inner surface and said second outer surface; whereby a plurality of full beads are formed and hair is secured in said first channel and said second channel when the device is in a closed position.
 2. The device of claim 1, wherein said first plurality of protrusions extend from said first inner surface substantially to said second inner surface.
 3. The device of claim 1, wherein said first plurality of protrusions extend from said first inner surface substantially to the height of said first lateral surface.
 4. The device of claim 1, wherein said second inner surface includes a second plurality of protrusions extending from said second inner surface.
 5. The device of claim 4, wherein said second plurality of protrusions extend from said second inner surface substantially to said first inner surface.
 6. The device of claim 4, wherein said second plurality of protrusions extend from said second inner surface substantially to the height of said second lateral surface.
 7. The device of claim 1, wherein said first lateral surface includes at least one alignment post and said second lateral surface includes a section for receiving said at least one alignment post.
 8. The device of claim 1, wherein said first inner surface includes at least one projection and said second inner surface and said second lateral surface include a surface defining an opening for receiving said at least one projection.
 9. The device of claim 8, wherein said at least one projection further comprises a lip and said surface defining an opening further comprises a vertical surface, whereby said lip abuts against said vertical surface to secure the device in a closed position.
 10. The device of claim 1, wherein said first channel and said second channel are generally semi-cylindrical in shape.
 11. The device of claim 1, further comprising a generally cylindrical opener having a tapered end for insertion into said first channel and said second when the device is in a closed position, thereby opening the device.
 12. The device of claim 11, wherein the diameter of the opener is sufficient to open the device when the device is in a closed position.
 13. The device of claim 12, wherein the diameter of the opener is greater than the diameter of the device.
 14. The device of claim 1, wherein said first plurality of protrusions extend perpendicularly from said first inner surface.
 15. The device of claim 4, wherein said second plurality of protrusions extend perpendicularly from said second inner surface.
 16. The device of claim 1, wherein said device is formed using a plastic injection molding process.
 17. The device of claim 1, wherein said male section further includes a first inner lateral surface and said female section further includes a second inner lateral surface, the device further comprising at least one hinge connected between said first inner lateral surface and said second inner lateral surface.
 18. The device of claim 1, wherein said male section further includes a first folding end and said female section further includes a second folding end, the device further comprising a hinge connected between said first folding end and said second folding end.
 19. A device for securing hair, comprising: a) a male section having (i) a first inner surface defining a first channel and including a first plurality of protrusions extending from said first inner surface, (ii) at least one projection attached to said first inner surface, said at least one projection including a lip, (iii) a first outer surface distal from said first inner surface, said first outer surface defining a plurality of partial beads, and (iv) a first lateral surface connecting said first inner surface and said first outer surface; and b) a female section for coupling to said male section, said female section having (i) a second inner surface defining a second channel, (ii) a second outer surface distal from said second inner surface, said second outer surface defining a plurality of partial beads, and (iii) a second lateral surface connecting said second inner surface and said second outer surface, said second inner surface and said second lateral surface including a surface defining an opening for receiving said at least one projection, whereby said first and second outer surfaces have the appearance of a row of individual beads when said male section is coupled to said female section with said at least one projection in frictional engagement with said opening.
 20. A device for securing hair, comprising: a) a male section having (i) a first inner surface defining a first channel, (ii) at least one projection attached to said first inner surface, said at least one projection including a lip, (iii) a first outer surface distal from said first inner surface, and (iv) a first lateral surface connecting said first inner surface and said first outer surface; b) a female section for coupling to said male section, said female section having (i) a second inner surface defining a second channel, (ii) a second outer surface distal from said second inner surface, and (iii) a second lateral surface connecting said second inner surface and said second outer surface, said second inner surface and said second lateral surface including a surface defining an opening for receiving said at least one projection; and c) a filler material attached to said first inner surface and said second inner surface. 